22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

Impact of “Caste System” in the State Politics of India

Accounting
The study of the state politics in India cannot be accomplished without reference to the caste factor.Without any exaggeration, it can be stated that caste is a dominant factor of state politics particularly in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh. (a) Caste in Andhra Pradesh: ADVERTISEMENTS: The caste factor is so strong a factor in Andhra Pradesh that all the political parties, national and regional, communist and non-communist, formulate their policies, programmes and activities with reference to the caste factor. The electoral politics in Andhra is virtually caste politics. The Reddys, Kammas and Valamas constitute the three angles of Andhra’s political triangle.The history of development of political parties in Andhra can be legitimately described as the history of the competition between…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

3 Important Perspectives of Indian Caste System

United States
The Important Perspectives of Indian Caste System are described below:Caste system in India has been studied from three perspectives i.e. Indological, Socio- Anthropological and Institutionalist. Indologists view caste from the scriptural point of view, Social-Anthropologists from the cultural point of view, and Sociologist from the point of view of stratification. (A) Indological-Religious Perspective: ADVERTISEMENTS: In the Indological-religious perspective, the exponents take their cue from the ancient scriptures and present their views on the origin, purpose, and future of the caste system. They hold the view that Varnas originated from Brahma and castes emerged as fissional units of the varna system.The origin of Castes came due to the need and development of division of labour in the society. Brahmins were given the superior position in society because of their knowledge of…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

10 Important Features of the “Indian Constitution” Against the Evils of “Caste System”

Industry
The Constitution of India and several laws made under it have attacked the Indian Caste system with a view to weaken it, particularly for eliminating the evils of the caste system, including the inhuman evil of untouchability.The objective of the following features of the Indian Constitution has been to attack caste and casteism in Indian society and politics.1. The Preamble to the Indian Constitution, which is a very valuable part of the basic structure of the Constitution, affirms full faith in popular sovereignty and recognises the sovereign equality of all the people of India. ADVERTISEMENTS: 2. The people of India have united made, adopted and enacted the Constitution of India. By it they have declared India to be a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic, republic consisting of all the people of…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

9 Important “Roles of Caste System” in Indian Politics

Plays
The role of caste in the Indian political system can be specifically discussed as under: (1) Caste Factor in Political Socialisation and Leadership Recruitment: Different caste groups have their loyalties behind different political parties and their ideologies. Right from his birth, an Indian citizen inherits a caste and grows up as a member of a particular caste group. ADVERTISEMENTS: He belongs either to one of the High Castes or to Scheduled Castes. In the process of picking up his political orientations, attitude and beliefs, he naturally comes under the influence of caste groups and casteism.‘Caste values’ and caste interests influence his socialisation and consequently his political thinking, awareness and participation. He banks upon caste solidarity for occupying and performing a leadership role. Image Source: alhsgov.weebly.comCaste influences the process of leadership…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

4 Different Views of Eminent Scholars Regarding the “Role of Caste System” in Indian Politics

Actors
(i) Views of Pranjpe: Caste has been played a significant role in Indian politics. Pranjpe has observed, “since majorities make a government in democracies, many small groups must join to form a majority in a constituency. Certain caste groups comprise a sizeable proportion of voters in a constituency so that these castes can gain a working majority by compromising with some other caste groups.Furthermore, it is observed that in many constituencies, the sub-castes, or endogamous jati groups, are too small to form an effective majority, whereas the Varna groups of caste are large enough to do this. This might explain the apparent paradox that politics is weakening sub-caste while it is strenghening caste (Varna groups). Image Source: cdn.yourarticlelibrary.com (ii) Views of Rajni Kothari: ADVERTISEMENTS: Rajni Kothari holds the view that…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

6 Important Differences between “Class” and “Caste Stratifications” (India)

Marriage
The Important Distinctions between Class and Caste Stratifications in societies are: (1) Caste Stratification is Inherited and Class Stratification is Mostly Achieved: Caste is inherited, a child at birth takes the status of his parents and as such the latter attributed of his life cannot change what birth has given to him. Membership of a class does not depend on hereditary factors; rather depends on the worldly achievement of an individual. (2) Caste Stratification is Static whereas Class Stratification is Dynamic: ADVERTISEMENTS: Membership of caste cannot be left by an individual. Class on the other hand, is a flexible system of social division. The child at birth belongs to the caste to which his or her parents belong. In case of class also, a child belongs to the class of…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

6 Important Features of Indian Society (Caste-Stratified Society)

Professions
The Main Features of Indian societies as a Caste-stratified Society are:Social Stratification in India has been basically a caste-based social stratification. The Indian society stand organised on the foundations of caste-system. It involves the presence of social relations based upon a system characterised by several castes. The Indian society is usually described as a caste-based society. ADVERTISEMENTS: While defining caste in the context of Indian social system, Ketkar has written, “A caste group is a group having two characteristics: i) Member is confined to those who are born of members and includes all persons so born, and (ii) The members are forbidden by an inexorable, social law to many outside the group.M. N. Srinivas writes, “Caste in India is a hereditary group having a traditional association within occupation and a…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

Essay on the “Legitimacy” of a Political System

Government
The concept of Legitimacy is inseparably tied up with the concept of Authority. Infect, legitimacy is the supreme quality of Authority. The ability of a political system to effectively implement its laws and policies in the society and the support that the authority-holders get from the people, depends to a very large extent on the degree of legitimacy that the political system in general and the authority-holders, in particular, enjoy.The effectiveness of authority depends upon the degree of legitimacy that it has at its back. People respect and enduringly obey authority when it enjoys a high level of legitimacy. An authority enjoying less legitimacy is bound to remain inefficient. ADVERTISEMENTS: Authority involves the exercise of legitimate power over the people. Without legitimacy authority takes the form of power or even…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

7 Important Kinds of Authority (as Identified by Eminent Sociologist)

Government
One the basis of the main source of the power exercised by the authority-holder, several kinds of authority is identified by the social scientists. 1. Traditional Authority: Authority based on customs and conventions is called Traditional Authority. The authority of a village elder is a traditional authority. In the political system of Britain, the authority of the King and the Prime Minister mainly rests upon customs, conventions and usages and not upon constitutional laws. Hence their authority can be designated as authority resting upon conventions. It can be called Traditional Authority. 2. Constitutional Authority: ADVERTISEMENTS: The legitimate power vested by the constitution of a state in an office or an institution is called Constitutional Authority. The authority of the President of India, the Prime Minister of India, the Chief Justice…
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22Oct 2018 by Reese Bannister

4 Major Theories of Power (Class, Elite, Pluralist and Gender Theories)

Writers
Power is a factor of all social relations, particularly the political relations. It is present in every society. However, its distribution differs from society to society.Two major and interesting questions which demand answers are: who hold power in society? How power stands distributed in society? Several theories have been advocated by Political Sociologists and each of which seeks to explain the possession and distribution of power in society..(1) Class Theory of Power ADVERTISEMENTS: (2) Elite Theory of Power(3) Pluralist Theory of Power(4) Gender Theory of Power 1. Class Theory of Power: The Class Theory of power stands associated with the name of Karl Marx and his Marxism. It holds that in each society there are present two classes: ADVERTISEMENTS: (i) The class of the Rich (Haves) which owns the means…
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